Scott Walker Broke Campaign Rules In College

New emails that came out of an ongoing investigation of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) days as Milwaukee county executive show that his top aides were doing campaign work on official government time and that Walker himself may have been aware of that. But that may not be the first time in Walker’s political career that campaign rules snagged him.

Back during his college days, Walker ran for president of Marquette University’s student government. On Monday The Huffington Post noted (via American Bridge) that while running for president of Associated Students at Marquette University (ASMU), Walker began campaigning for the top college office job before school rules said candidates could begin. According to the Marquette Tribune in Feb. 2, 1988:

Potential ASMU presidential candidate Scott Walker was found guilty of illegal campaigning in a grievance hearing before members of the elections commission Monday night.

By speaking before a meeting of the Delta Chi fraternity Jan. 24, Walker, an arts and sciences sophomore, violated the rule which states, “No campaigning may begin before a candidate is registered,” the committee ruled.

Candidates were allowed to start campaigning on Feb. 3. As punishment for Walker’s overly eager move he was not allowed to start campaigning until Feb. 4. Another Marquette Tribune story a few days later reported that Walker delivered a campaign speech titled “Scott Walker for ASMU President” a few hours before he was allowed to start campaigning.

In response to the first report on campaign misconduct Walker didn’t complain.

“I found no fault in their decision,” Walker said referring to the campus elections commission’s decision to make him wait an extra day before he could start campaigning. “All it does is limit me for one day.”